Takuma Soto made history Sunday by becoming the first Japanese driver to win the Indianapolis 500, marking a big moment for the Formula One's popularity in his home country and another major win for Andretti Autosport.

A Denver sportswriter, however, wasn't OK with the triumph.

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The Denver Post's Terry Frei wrote in a since-deleted tweet "Nothing specifically personal, but I am very uncomfortable with a Japanese driver winning the Indianapolis 500 during Memorial Day weekend."

Twitter/Terry Frei (@TFrei)

The comment was quick to draw backlash over social media and garnered a rebuke from his employer, with the Post releasing a statement saying the tweet "does not reflect the standards and values of our organization" and it is "treating this as a personnel issue."

Frei also released a long statement apologizing for the tweet and to Sato.

After saying he "fouled up," the writer gave background on his father flying a P-38 fighter in the Pacific during World War II, as well as other veterans who lost their lives in the war with the Japanese."

"I am sorry," he wrote. "I made a mistake, and I understand 72 years have passed since the end of World War II. ... I know better, and I'm angry at myself because there was no constructive purpose to it."